While the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) was relatively quiet this year, there was still plenty to see. Here are the top cars we saw.
Speed demons
The 2020 Toyota Supra finally debuted! As excited as we are about that, its reception has been mixed – partly due to its lack of a manual transmission. It wasn’t the only speed demon available at NAIAS, though. The 2020 Ford Shelby GT500 also made waves, offering a whopping 700+ horsepower and a 0-60 time of just over 3 seconds.
Subaru’s WRX STI S209 was another speed demon that caught our attention, in part because it’s the first S-line vehicle available to American consumers. Limited to 200 vehicles, the S209 is 1.7 inches wider than the STI with a 2.5-liter boxer engine that produces an estimated 341 horsepower along with Brembo brakes. It also includes standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and 19-inch gold wheels.
Daily haulers
The 2019 Ram 3500 accomplished a first-in-class milestone: It now has 1,000 pound-feet of torque available along with 400 horsepower, if you specify it with the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-6 engine. It also sets new benchmarks in payload and towing capacity for a heavy-duty pickup: 35,100 and 7,680 pounds, respectively. Other updates include a center console big enough to fit a 15-inch laptop and a tire-pressure-monitoring system for up to 12 tires.
The 2020 Ford Explorer gets more towing capacity, now up to 5,600 pounds when properly equipped and with the V6 engine. If you prefer a sportier daily driver, you can find that in the performance-focused ST trim. It features a 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine making 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque and taking the car to a top speed of 143 mph.
Off-roading crossovers
The 2020 Kia Telluride is a 3-row crossover made for the American market: It’s big and boxy, bringing to mind classic SUVs like the Ford Bronco. You can deploy the second-row seats with a push-button to access 46 cubic feet of cargo space. The Telluride also taps into our desire for a luxury crossover that we can take off-road with handles next to the cupholders and optional all-wheel drive (AWD).
The 2020 Cadillac XT6 should be ideal for those who like to drive in style. You can choose between the Premium Luxury trim – complete with chrome details and wood-trim accents inside – or the Sport trim, which swaps out those features for carbon fiber accents.
Sedans
Yup, sedans like the 2020 Volkswagen Passat made news at the Detroit Auto Show. The exterior is fully redesigned with a wider, bigger grille and a coupe-like profile. Inside, it offers luxury features like heated seats and dual-zone climate control. This new look potentially sets up the Passat to compete with premium sport sedans like the Acura TLX.
The 2020 Cadillac CT6-V also makes news during this auto show. It features a hand-built twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8 engine that makes 550 horsepower and 627 lb-feet of torque. Similar to the S209, production of the CT6-V will be limited – in this case to just 275 vehicles. While it’s got a high price tag – close to $90,000 – you’ll also get two days at the Cadillac V-Performance Academy as part of your purchase.
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Md. Anisuzzaman says
In my point of view 2020 Ford Shelby GT500 is the best for 2019. The listed all cars have their own unique features. After all the list is fine.
Bill Jay says
Frankly this list is accurate. I call BMW the “Sedan King”. Best pickups will remain Ford and RAM. Thanks for this article. The Toyota Supra is the new surprise in 2019 with extreme features which make the future of this car very bright.